Device for raising liquids from wells.



narran Asrarns earner torsion.

DEVBGE FOR lPlSlllNlG Specification of Letters Patent.

LIQUDS FidQllll WELLS.

Patented Feb. 2U, 1906.

Application filed February 3.1904. Serial No. 191,841.

T0 a/ZZ wiz/0m t 11e/Ly concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mayburg', in the county of Forest and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Raising Liquids from Wells, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to im rovements in devices for raising liquids, an especially oil, from wells by the use of compressed air and will be fully understood by a reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a central vertical section of the lower portion of a well with my device in position therein, which is also shown in section. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

The same reference characters indicate identical parts in the several views.

I am aware that certain devices are now and have for a number of years past been in use for raisin liquids from wells by the use of compresse air, gas, and steam and that during later years these devices in various modified forms have beenadapted to oil.

wells; but so far as I am aware they are all more or less unsatisfactory and ineiiicient, even when new, and rapidlybecome more so in use by reason of not being roperly constructed to exclude sand andp particles of rock, which are always present in wells. Furthermore, certain types of these devices depend more or less upon placin the liquid in the well or shot cavity un er pressure in order to force it into the reservoir where it is to be operated upon by the compressed air. This requirement is caused by one or both of two matters of defective construction in other devices of this class, and one of these defects is the matter of placing the reservoir directly in the shot-hole or on a level with the producing strata, by reason of which position the gravity of the li uid is given no opportunity to do its work. he other defect of construction' is the failure to provide the reservoir with a roper vent for the esca e' of gas and air as t e oil or other liquid ows into the same. v The pressure thus required is injurious and detrimental to the reducing capacity of the well in causing t e production to be more r or less intermittent and consequent damage to the walls of the producing strata duction.

It is the object of my invention to overcome the objections stated above g and, whereas my device is so constructed that it is an impossibility for sand to enter the same or to settle about the same in such a manner as to cause it to become stuck in the well; fur* ther, inasmuch as the receiving-reservoir` of my device is entirely below the oil-produc1ng strata and its reservoir is provided with a vent of such construction, location, and capacity as to allow a ready escape for the gas and air therefrom and admits at all times of a free flow of oil or fluid thereinto by gravity alone, thus causing the well to be a constant and steady producer, and, furthermore, inasmuch as 1n device admits of the oil flowing freely at al times from the producing strata, and the wall thereof thus kept free from deposits of paraffin, therefore l claim to have overcome the objections above stated and to have attained various other advantages which will be hereinafter set forth. In all other devices of this class, so far as I am aware, the inlet-valves are so located that when they are closed for the expulsion of oil from the reservoir the oil must cease to drain from the roducing stratum or shot-hole for the time eing, and thus said drainage becolnes interrupted to a certain degree, whereas in my device the inlet ,is so arranged that oil ma continuously drain thereinto even when t e inlet-valve is closed.

In the drawings, 1 represents the wall of the well, and 2 indicates the shot-hole, which is made in nearly all wells by means so well known to the art as to need no detailed descriiton here. For the purpose of accommo ating the receiving-reservoir of my device the drill-hole is continued below the shot-hole to a considerable distance, which may be more or less, as circumstances reuire, and determined principally by the production of the Well.

My device is constructed as follows: As the tubing 3 nears the shot-hole 2 it is enlarged, and in said tubing, immediately within said shot-hole, is placed abridge 4, whichhas alongitudinal hole 5 extending entirely through the same, and another longitudinal hole 6, which extends from the lower end of the bridge to about the middle thereof, where it opens laterally into the shot-hole. .To the lower end of bridge 4 is attached the tubing 3, the intein various ways which are readily amaai-entk to any one acquainted with the art of o1l pro-- IDO rior'of which serves as a reservoir 3 for the reception of oil or fluid, and in the lower part of tubmg 3 is placed the return-chamber 7, a

' plan view of which is shown in Fig. 3. Said return-chamber is composed, preferably, of cast-iron, and in the bottom of same is a large chamber 8, and leading downwardly thereto are the ducts 9 10. The length o-f the tubing 3 is preferably about forty feet and, as above stated, constitutes a receivingreservoir for oil or other fluid. The upper portion of hole 5 in bridge 4 serves as a seat for valve 11, and the lateral opening 6 serves as an inlet for oil or -other liquid from the shot-hole. A connecting-pipe 12 joins the inlet v6 with the duct 9 in the return-chamber, and into the upperend of duct 10is seated the valve 13. Valves 11 and 13 are connected together by the air-pipe 14, and in order that virregularities in the distance betweenv the respective seats of valves 11 and 13 may be accommodated by saidpipe 14 a slip-joint 15 is placed in said pipe 14, which consists of a larger section of pipe 16, in which is inserted a spiral spring 17, which rests upon valve 13, and upon which spring rests in turn the lower end of pipe 14, which pipe 14-is preferably of such a length that when the spring 17 is normally extended the distance between 'the 'valves is considerably greater than the distance between their respective seats, so that when the valves are in position the spring 17 is considerably compressed, and hence it is assured that both valves 11 and 13 will be firmly seated. Pipe 14 is preferably enlarged throughout the greater part of its length in orderlto afford a freer passage for air or gas. Valve 13 is of the usual ball type, with an elongated taper seat to fit the duct 10 and having at the upper portion thereof a cage or crown 18,which contains the ball 20. Valve 11 is of peculiar construction and is shown in cross-section at Fig. 2. It has therein the central passage 21 for air or gas, (which is a continuation of pipe 14,) and around the same are the passages 22 for oil or other fluid. Operably seated upon said valve is the drop 23, which is free to play vertically. Extending through bridge 4 is a vent 24, and this is extended upward by the pipe 24', which has at the upper extremity thereof a ballvalve-25, which allows air and gas to escape from the oil-reservoir in the pipe 3, therebyI relieving all pressure and allowing a free inlet of the oil.

` The operation of my device is substantially as follows: As oil or other fluid gathers in the shot-hole 2 and rises to the opening 6 it flows therein and downward through pipe 12 into the return-chamber, 7 and up through the duct 8 and escapes through valve 13 into the chamber 3 of pipe 3', and this may continue until said chamber is filled, at which time air or gas under pressure is admitted through pipe 14 and the first oHice thereof is to force ball 20 of valve 13 firmly to its seat, and thus prevent the loss of the slightest quantity of o1l or other fluid by regurgitation. The air or gas then escapes in the chamber 3 and v resumes its normal position when the air or4 gas pressure. is relieved. When the oil or other fluid is all expelled from the chamber 3, the admission of air or gas through pipe 14 is stopped and oil or other fluid again flows into said chamber by gravity.

Beit understood that the valves 11 and 13 may be readily removed from the well by means of the pipe 14,Y to which they areL attached, and that the peculiar construction, arrangement, and combination of said valves, and especially the provision of the slip-joint and spiral spring which insures the properseating. of said valves,` are essential features of my invention.

It will be readily understood that the oilinlet 6 being quite high up in the bridge no sand can enter the same; but all sand which finds its way to the shot-hole will settle to the bottom of same, and in order that such sand and sediment may not become firmly ernbedded about the pipe 3 the same is wrapped with several layers of packing P, which may be any suitable material, but preferably corrugated paper, such as is extensively used for wrapping purposes. While this soon becomes a soft pulp under the action of the liquid in the well, it still effectively lexcludes the sand and sediment and permits the tubing to be easily withdrawn from the same, and any portion thereof which may remain in the well after the tubing is withdrawn can be easily cleaned out. The packing P above described is not intended to form a liquidtight joint between the periphery of the casing and the wall of the well, and I do not here seek to claim a packing adapted to such purpose. My packing is for the purpose of pre- IOO IIO

venting sand and sediment from settling about the reservoir in such manner as to cause it to become stuck to the well.

I am aware that certain Letters Patent of the United States, No. 715,141, dated December 2, 1902, and granted to one William Plotts, shows a process of lshutting off water in drilled oil-wells, and which process consists in tamping sand or other suitable material between the outside of the casing andthe wall of the well below a water-bearing stratum to prevent water from flowing downward past the same; but if such a method of packing were substituted for my packing P it would cause the reservoir to become firmly stuck in the well, and this is precisely what my packing is adapted to prevent. Hence I specifically disclaim such packing or process as is shown in said Letters Patent to Plotts or any other wall packer, as the same is commonly understood and applied in the oil-producing industry, as any amount of liquid flowing downward about the reservoir is wholly immaterial. IFIence the packing here shown is not a wall-packer in any sense which that word is employed in the art of oil production.

Valve 13 is of such diameter that it will readily pass through the hole 5 of the bridge 4, and thus when it becomes necessary to repair either or both of the valves 11 and 13 they may be readily drawn from the well by means of the air-pipe 14, to which they are attached.

The valves l1 and 13 have each a facing f, of comparatively,yieldable metallic material, which readily accommodates itself to any irregularities in the seats therefor. The valves being thus wholly constructed of metal and Without the use of leather, fabric, or rubber, they are able to wi thstandl any degree of heat which is likely to be applied to them-as, for instance, where heated air is employed or where the well is flooded from above with hot oil for reasons well known to those skilled in the art of oil production.

llaving thus described my device, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l In an improved device for raising liquids from wells, a reservoir located below the producing strata, a bridge located at the upper end of said reservoir, a valve located in said bridge, there being an air-passage and an oilpassage formed within the body of said valve.

2. In an improved device for raising liquids from wells, the combination of two valves connected together and adapted to seat one below the other, means in said connection adapted to automatically adjust said valves to irregularities of distance between their re-v spective seats.

3. In an improved device for raising liquids from wells, the shot-hole in said well, in combination'with a bridge located in said shothole, there being a fluid-inlet in said bridge, the reservoir attached to and extending below said bridge, the packing about said reservoir, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In an improved device for raisin liquids from wells, a bridge located in the s ot-hole of the well, there being a valveless or nonclosing Huid-inlet in said bridge, in combination with a fluid-receiving reservoir extending below said' bridge, means of Cpreventing the regurgitation of said fluid an means of forcing the fluid from said reservoir to the surface of the earth.

5. In an improved device for raising liquids from wells, a tubing located in the well, a

bridge located in said tubing, a return-chamber :located below said bridge and connected thereto by a reservoir, valve-seats in said bridge and said return-chainber, valves attached to an air-pipe and adapted to seat in said seats respectively, a slip-joint located in said pipe, adapted to secure the proper seating of said valves. y

6. In an improved device for raising liquids from. wells, tubing-extending below theproducing stratum, a bridge interposed in said tubing and located at the producing stratum, the tubing below said bridge being adapted as a receiving-reservoir, a fluid-inlet in said bridge, means of conducting the fluid entering by said inlet to said receiving-reservoir, means/of preventing the regurgitation of said'luid, and means of forcing said uid from the receiving-reservoir to the surface of the earth. l'

7. In an improved device for raising li uids from wells, a reservoir, a bridge located a ove said reservoir, a vent in said bridge adapted to' the free escape of air and gas therefrom, a pipe secured in the bridge at said vent, and

extending upward from said bridge, a valve attached to the upper end of said pipe, adapted to permit a normal flow of as or airl therefrom, and to be closed by an a normal llow4 of gas or air, and to automatically open when said pressure or flow again becomes normal.

8. In an improved device forraising liquids from wells, a reservoir, a bridge located at the top of said reservoir, there being a longitudinal hole through said bridge and an oilinlet in said bridge, communicating with the shot-hole, a return-chamber located at the bottom of said shot-hole and having an oilduct therein adapted to admit oil to said reservoir7 a va lve seated in the duct of said returnchamber, a valve seated in the longitudinal hole offsaid bri'd e, a pipe communication between the oil-in et in the bridge a'nd in the return-chamber. l

9. In an im roved device for raising liquids from wells, t'u ing or pipe located in said well, a bridge in said tubing located in the shothole, a reservoir attached to said bridge and extending below the same, a return-chamber located in the bottom of` said reservoir, means of admitting liquid to said reservoir by way of said bridge and return-chamber, an air-pipe located in said tubing, valves attached to said pipe and ada ted to seat in said bridge and said return-c amber respectively, said valves being adapted to allow the liquid to pass upward therethrough and to prevent the return of same, means of admitting compressed air to said reservoir, and means of conducting oil to the surface of the ground, or to another storage-chamber above the bridge.

10. In an improved device for raising oil from wells, the combination of tubing eX- IIO tending from the surface down to the shothole or oil-producing stratum, a bridge afixed to said tubing and located in said shot` hole, there being a longitudinal hole extending through said bridge, and the upper end thereof a apted as a valve-seat, and a longitudinal hole extending from the lower end of said bridge partly through the same and having a lateral opening into the shot-hole, and adapted as an inlet for oil, tubing attached to the bottom of said bridge and extending downward therefrom below the oil-producing strata and adapted as a Stora e-reservoir, a return-chamber located at the ottoni of said reservoir, means oi' conducting oil from the ting said oil to pass into the storage-reser- Voir, an air-pipe extending from the surface of the ground down into the tubing, valves thereon adapted to seat in the brid e and in the return-chamber respectively an adapted to permit oil to pass upwardly throu h the same and to prevent the return thereolg.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM RICHARDS.

Witnesses:

A. J. WALTER, J. G. RICHARDS. 

